Joe Berlinger
Directing Born Oct 30, 1961 Boca Raton, Florida, USA 99 credits
Biography
Joseph Joe Berlinger, born October 30, 1961, in Boca Raton, Florida, is an American documentary filmmaker and director known for works focusing on true crime and social justice issues in the United States and abroad. In collaboration with Bruce Sinofsky, he created films such as Brother's Keeper, Paradise Lost, Some Kind of Monster, and Crude. Working with journalist Greg Milner, Berlinger wrote the book Metallica: This Monster Lives, detailing his transition from making Blair Witch 2 to creating Some Kind of Monster with the metal band Metallica. His television work includes series such as Homicide: Life on the Street, D.C., and FanClub, and his first directed movie was the 1992 documentary My Broth.
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Career overview
Joseph Joe Berlinger is an American documentary filmmaker born on October 30, 1961, in Boca Raton, Florida. In his career, he has worked in television series such as Homicide: Life on the Street, D.C., and FanClub, and has directed numerous projects with known credits totaling fifty-three. Particularly focused on true crime documentaries, Berlinger's films and docu-series draw attention to social justice issues in the United States and abroad.
In collaboration with Bruce Sinofsky, Berlinger created films such as Paradise Lost, Brother's Keeper, Some Kind of Monster, and Crude. Additionally, in collaboration with journalist Greg Milner, Berlinger wrote a book titled Metallica: This Monster Lives, which details his journey from making Blair Witch 2 to creating Some Kind of Monster with the metal band Metallica.
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Frequent co-stars
Kim Director
1 shared title
Jeffrey Donovan
1 shared title
Erica Leerhsen
1 shared title
Tristine Skyler
1 shared title
Stephen Barker Turner
1 shared title
Lanny Flaherty
1 shared title
Lauren Hulsey
1 shared title
Raynor Scheine
1 shared title
Kennen Sisco
1 shared title
Dina Napoli
1 shared title
Career timeline
The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare · Executive ProducerThe Idaho Murders: College Nightmare · Creator
Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes · DirectorConversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes · Executive ProducerCold Case: The Tylenol Murders · Executive Producer
Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial · Executive ProducerHitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial · DirectorCold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey · DirectorCold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey · Executive ProducerCrime Scene Berlin: Nightlife Killer · Executive Producer
Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street · Executive ProducerMadoff: The Monster of Wall Street · DirectorLust for Fear - True Crime Fascination
Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes · Executive ProducerConversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes · DirectorConversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes · CreatorConversations with a Killer: The John Wayne Gacy Tapes · Executive ProducerConversations with a Killer: The John Wayne Gacy Tapes · Director
Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel · Executive ProducerCrime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel · DirectorCrime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel · CreatorCrime Scene: The Times Square Killer · Executive ProducerCrime Scene: The Times Square Killer · Director
Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich · Executive Producer
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and VileExtremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile · DirectorExtremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile · ProducerConversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes · Executive ProducerConversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes · Director
Paris to Pittsburgh · Executive ProducerCold Blooded: The Clutter Family Murders · Director
Intent to Destroy: Death, Denial & Depiction · DirectorIntent to Destroy: Death, Denial & Depiction · ProducerIntent to Destroy: Death, Denial & Depiction · Writer
Judgment Day: Prison or Parole? · DirectorJudgment Day: Prison or Parole? · Executive ProducerJudgment Day: Prison or Parole? · CreatorTony Robbins: I Am Not Your GuruTony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru · Director
Ubah! · Director
We the Economy: 20 Short Films You Can't Afford to Miss · DirectorMetallica: This Monster Lives · DirectorWhitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger · ProducerWhitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger · Director
Devil's KnotHank: 5 Years from the Brink · Director
Paul Simon: Under African Skies · DirectorParadise Lost 3: Purgatory · ProducerParadise Lost 3: Purgatory · Director
Captive Beauty · Executive Producer
Crude · DirectorCrude · Director of PhotographyCrude · Producer
Infrarouge · DirectorInfrarouge · Screenplay10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America · Director10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America · Producer
Metallica: Some Kind of Monster · DirectorMetallica: Some Kind of Monster · ProducerMetallica: Some Kind of Monster · Executive ProducerGray MatterGray Matter · Director
imagine… · DirectorThe Virtual Corpse · Executive ProducerJudgment Day: Should the Guilty Go Free · Director
Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 · DirectorBook of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 · ScreenplayParadise Lost 2: Revelations · DirectorParadise Lost 2: Revelations · Producer
Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood HillsParadise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills · DirectorParadise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills · ProducerParadise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills · Editor
Homicide: Life on the Street · Director
Brother's Keeper · DirectorBrother's Keeper · ProducerBrother's Keeper · Editor
Outrageous Taxi Stories · Director
American Playhouse · Director
Full Filmography
99 titles- The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare (2026) Executive Producer
- The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare (2026) Creator
- Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes (2025) Director
- Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes (2025) Executive Producer
- Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders (2025) Executive Producer
- Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial (2024) Executive Producer
- Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial (2024) Director
- Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey (2024) Director
- Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey (2024) Executive Producer
- Crime Scene Berlin: Nightlife Killer (2024) Executive Producer
- Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street (2023) Executive Producer
- Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street (2023) Director
- Lust for Fear - True Crime Fascination (2023) as Self
- Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes (2022) Executive Producer
- Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes (2022) Director
- Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes (2022) Creator
- Conversations with a Killer: The John Wayne Gacy Tapes (2022) Executive Producer
- Conversations with a Killer: The John Wayne Gacy Tapes (2022) Director
- Conversations with a Killer: The John Wayne Gacy Tapes (2022) Creator
- Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields (2022) Executive Producer
- Shadowland (2022) Executive Producer
- Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (2021) Executive Producer
- Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (2021) Director
- Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (2021) Creator
- Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer (2021) Executive Producer
- Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer (2021) Director
- Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer (2021) Creator
- Confronting a Serial Killer (2021) Director
- Confronting a Serial Killer (2021) Executive Producer
- Confronting a Serial Killer (2021) Creator
- Murder Among the Mormons (2021) Executive Producer
- Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (2020) Executive Producer
- Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019) as Colorado Jailhouse Reporter
- Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019) Director
- Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019) Producer
- Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes (2019) Executive Producer
- Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes (2019) Director
- Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes (2019) Creator
- The Longest Wave (2019) Director
- The Longest Wave (2019) Producer
- The Longest Wave (2019) Writer
- The Longest Wave (2019) Additional Camera
- I Am Not Alone (2019) Executive Producer
- Paris to Pittsburgh (2018) Executive Producer
- Cold Blooded: The Clutter Family Murders (2018) Director
- Intent to Destroy: Death, Denial & Depiction (2017) Director
- Intent to Destroy: Death, Denial & Depiction (2017) Producer
- Intent to Destroy: Death, Denial & Depiction (2017) Writer
- Judgment Day: Prison or Parole? (2016) Director
- Judgment Day: Prison or Parole? (2016) Executive Producer
- Judgment Day: Prison or Parole? (2016) Creator
- Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru (2016) as Self - Documentary Director
- Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru (2016) Director
- Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru (2016) Producer
- Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru (2016) Additional Camera
- Ubah! (2015) Director
- We the Economy: 20 Short Films You Can't Afford to Miss (2014) Director
- Metallica: This Monster Lives (2014) Director
- Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger (2014) Producer
- Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger (2014) Director
- Devil's Knot (2013) as Very Special Appearance
- Hank: 5 Years from the Brink (2013) Director
- Paul Simon: Under African Skies (2012) Director
- Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory (2012) Producer
- Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory (2012) Director
- Captive Beauty (2011) Executive Producer
- Crude (2009) Director
- Crude (2009) Director of Photography
- Crude (2009) Producer
- Infrarouge (2006) Director
- Infrarouge (2006) Screenplay
- 10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America (2006) Director
- 10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America (2006) Producer
- Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004) Director
- Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004) Producer
- Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004) Executive Producer
- Gray Matter (2004) as Self
- Gray Matter (2004) Director
- Gray Matter (2004) Writer
- imagine… (2003) Director
- The Virtual Corpse (2003) Executive Producer
- Judgment Day: Should the Guilty Go Free (2003) Director
- Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000) as Burkittsville Tourist
- Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000) Director
- Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000) Screenplay
- Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (2000) Director
- Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (2000) Producer
- Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996) as Self (voice)
- Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996) Director
- Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996) Producer
- Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996) Editor
- Homicide: Life on the Street (1993) Director
- Brother's Keeper (1992) Director
- Brother's Keeper (1992) Producer
- Brother's Keeper (1992) Editor
- Outrageous Taxi Stories (1989) Director
- American Playhouse (1982) Director
- Slay the Dreamer Executive Producer
- Fail-Safe Director
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Joe Berlinger best known for?
Joe Berlinger is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare (2026), The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare (2026), El hijo de Huracán Ramírez (1966), El hijo de Huracán Ramírez (1966).
When and where was Joe Berlinger born?
Joe Berlinger was born on October 30, 1961 in Boca Raton, Florida, USA.
How many credits does Joe Berlinger have?
Joe Berlinger has accumulated over 99 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1982 to 2026.
What is Joe Berlinger's background in cinema and television?
Joseph Joe Berlinger, born October 30, 1961, in Boca Raton, Florida, is an American documentary filmmaker and director known for works focusing on true crime and social justice issues in the United States and abroad. In collaboration with Bruce Sinofsky, he created films such as Brother's Keeper, Paradise Lost, Some Ki...
Joe Berlinger by the numbers
99credits
55films
44TV series
1982–2026active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019) as Colorado Jailhouse Reporter — aged about 57
- Devil's Knot (2013) as Very Special Appearance — aged about 51
- Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000) as Burkittsville Tourist — aged about 38
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